We conducted a meta-synthesis of five different studies that developed, tested, and implemented new technologies for the purpose of collecting Observations of Daily Living (ODL). From this synthesis, we developed a model to explain user motivation as it relates to ODL collection. We describe this model that includes six factors that motivate patients' collection of ODL data: usability, illness experience, relevance of ODLs, information technology infrastructure, degree of burden, and emotional activation. We show how these factors can act as barriers or facilitators to the collection of ODL data and how interacting with care professionals and sharing ODL data may also influence ODL collection, health-related awareness, and behavior change. The model we developed and used to explain ODL collection can be helpful to researchers and designers who study and develop new, personal health technologies to empower people to improve their health.

A major challenge in developing blood-contacting medical devices is mitigating thrombogenicity of an intravascular device. Thrombi may interfere with device function or embolize from the device to occlude distant vascular beds with catastrophic consequences. Chemical interactions between plasma proteins and bioengineered surface occur at the nanometer scale; however, continuum models of blood predict local shear stresses that lead to platelet activation or aggregation and thrombosis. Here, an iterative approach to blood flow path design incorporating in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments predicted the occurrence and location of thrombi in an implantable hemofilter. Low wall shear stress (WSS) regions identified by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predicted clot formation in vivo. Revised designs based on CFD demonstrated superior performance, illustrating the importance of a multipronged approach for a successful design process.

This SHEA white paper identifies knowledge gaps and challenges in healthcare epidemiology research related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a focus on core principles of healthcare epidemiology. These gaps, revealed during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, are described in 10 sections: epidemiology, outbreak investigation, surveillance, isolation precaution practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental contamination and disinfection, drug and supply shortages, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare personnel (HCP) occupational safety, and return to work policies. Each section highlights three critical healthcare epidemiology research questions with detailed description provided in supplementary materials. This research agenda calls for translational studies from laboratory-based basic science research to well-designed, large-scale studies and health outcomes research. Research gaps and challenges related to nursing homes and social disparities are included. Collaborations across various disciplines, expertise and across diverse geographic locations will be critical.